In the 1980s and 1990s, Meg Ryan rose to prominence as one of America’s sweethearts, playing lovable romantic leads.

The beautiful actress, with her blond shag haircut, will be remembered for Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

Nobody expected Ryan’s star to fade, yet she disappeared from films after 2018.

While the 90s girl next door is no longer in the spotlight, Ryan, 61, recently made an impression on the red carpet.

Her star shone brilliantly for two decades as a Hollywood favorite.

Ryan was born in 1961 and spent his childhood in Fairfield, Connecticut. Her father was Harry Hyra, a Polish-born math teacher. Ryan’s mother, Susan Jordan, was a teacher and an actress, so stage presence runs in the family.

Changing her name

Meg’s relationship with her parents deteriorated after they split in 1976, when she was 15.

Following a series of incidents, Meg’s relationship with her mother soured. When she joined the Screen Actors Guild, she changed her surname to “Ryan,” which is her grandmother’s maiden name.

Ryan studied journalism at Connecticut and New York universities as a young woman. Her college years may not have had the expected impact on her life.

Meg Ryan began performing commercials and soap operas for extra money. Many producers became aware of the exceptional young actress after she was cast in As the World Turns.

Ryan quit college to pursue a career in entertainment. She made a big impression in Top Gun with a striking image of Carole Bradshaw, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw’s wife.

Meg Ryan landed bigger roles when the 1986 romantic action film was the highest-grossing.

She fell in love with Top Gun. Anthony Edwards, her co-star and on-screen husband, later became her lover. They dated and lived together.

Ryan and his future hubby Dennis Quaid took part in Innerspace in 1987.

“She had a small role in “Top Gun”. She headlined the recent John Candy film “Armed and Dangerous”. Joe Dante, the director, told Cinema Retro that this was a big step for her and that she met Dennis and married him.

Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan married on February 14, 1991, after falling in love instantly.

“It was like a thunderbolt,” Dennis remarked. “We both thought, ‘This is it. We’ll be together.

The couple were married on Valentine’s Day in their hotel room. Ryan’s mother did not attend the wedding.

“I was laughing and crying at the same time,” she told the New York Post, “and I realized I could’ve never gotten married in front of a whole group of people.”

Rom-com queen

Her popularity increased once she played the romantic comedy protagonist. When Harry met Sally… Ryan and Billy Cristal performed the song Sally Albright. Despite critics’ disdain, the film has become a cult rom-com classic.

This film cemented Meg Ryan’s unthreatening reputation as the rom-com queen.

Another romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle, was released in 1993. The adorable “girl-next-door” attracted moviegoers again and was praised.

“I think her ‘cuteness’ sometimes blinds people to how genuinely gifted she is as a comic actress,” Nora Ephron’s legendary director said Vanity Fair in 1995.

Tom Hanks also stated that Meg Ryan may differ from her Nora Ephron roles. Critics dubbed Meg “the current soul of the romantic comedy,” but she had other sides.

“Meg is not perky, I always got the distinct impression that this woman is not to be messed around with,” the famous actor observed in 1995.

She wasn’t a lock to play Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle. She was the sixth choice after Julia Roberts, Kim Basinger, and Michelle Pfeiffer all declined the role.

Darker roles

Meg Ryan declined The Silence of the Lambs following the popularity of Sleepless in Seattle. Instead, she concentrated on her success: romantic comedies.

The actress desired a new role in 1996. In Courage Under Fire, Meg Ryan took on a darker role alongside Denzel Washington and Matt Damon.

Ryan appeared unstoppable after the 1996 film’s box office success. 1998 was one of her most successful years professionally. Another box-office success was almost guaranteed for Nicolas Cage’s romantic comedy City of Angels. Meg Ryan was praised again, and the film grossed about $200 million.

That year, she costarred with Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail, which was another career-defining performance. The story revolves around two adversaries who fell in love after emailing each other without knowing each other’s names.

The film earned Meg her third Golden Globe nomination, according to the New York Times: “Ms. Ryan plays her character lightly and credibly this time, with freshness, a minimum of charming fidgeting, and a fond connection with Mr. Hanks.”

What a lovely way to end the actress’ golden decade!

If the actress enjoyed success in the 1990s, the 2000s proved to be much more difficult. She had a few flops in the new decade, and the all-American nice lady was having personal issues.

When she starred opposite Russell Crowe in Proof of Life, romance rumors surfaced. Ryan and her husband’s relationship ended in 2000.

Ryan was ridiculed by the tabloids for dating Russel Crowe while married during this difficult period. Her actions did not match the public’s view of their favorite girl-next-door, therefore the affair made headlines.

Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan

Ryan’s marriage to Dennis Quaid was in shambles when she began seeing Russel Crowe, but few understood it.

Their marriage was hardly a Hollywood romance about love and perfection.

“Great story. My nine-year marriage was not mentioned. Dennis’s infidelity hurt me for a long time. When I was di:vorced, I learned more about that,” Meg Ryan told InStyle in 2008.

According to Meg Ryan, dating her Proof of Life co-star had no effect on her di:vorce from Dennis Quaid.

Russell did not divorce, despite what I believe was a big setback for him. Ryan stated: “He was there at the end, but it wasn’t his fault.”

“Public and press tuned in afterward”. She said our breakup was unrelated to another person.

Ryan’s remarks irritated her ex-husband years after their public di:vorce.

“It was eight years ago, and I find it unbelievable that Meg continues publicly to rehash and rewrite the story of our relationship,” he told the NYDaily News.

Meg Ryan said their marriage as “very unhealthy marriage,” whereas Dennis Quaid remembers it fondly.

“Sure, I still love her,” Quaid told Independent. I like her, and we have fun. We enjoyed 13 years together. We shared a child, and she made my life.”

Son of Meg Ryan

Despite their separation, Ryan and Quaid will always be linked by their son.

Their son, Jack Quaid, was born in 1992 and has followed in his parents’ footsteps. Jack made his film debut with The Hunger Games and has since been in a number of television shows and films.

Meg Ryan had a three-year vacation from performance following her public divorce, which was her most difficult moment. She prioritized her family and appeared to have a positive relationship with her kid.

In 2015, Meg directed Jack at Ithaca.

“I’m lucky I could grow up saying, ‘Hey, I want to be an actor,’ and they understood. I didn’t grow up in a house that didn’t grasp what that meant or told me, ‘Oh that probably isn’t the wisest choice, you should have a backup plan,’” Jack told Insider in 2022.